Ukraine: The European Union and DRC complete year-long project supporting people affected by war

Implemented from May 2024 to April 2025, the project provided a comprehensive response to some of the most urgent needs — from repairing damaged homes and providing legal and psychological support to teaching families and children how to stay safe in areas contaminated by explosive remnants of war.

Reaching people where help was most needed

Through the partnership with the European Union, DRC and local organisations reached individuals and communities in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Lviv, Poltava, and Cherkasy oblasts — regions heavily impacted by shelling, displacement, and loss of livelihoods.

Over 48,000 people received protection services, including legal counselling, psychosocial support, and assistance for survivors of violence. Shelter teams repaired and winterised homes for more than 13,000 people, while nearly 3,600 farmers received targeted cash support to restart agricultural activities and sustain their families.

Mine action teams conducted risk education sessions, reaching over 11,000 people with life-saving information and direct assistance in some of Ukraine’s most contaminated areas.

Local partnerships at the core

The project was implemented together with five Ukrainian Civil Society organisations, building on their deep knowledge of local realities and strengthening community-led responses. This approach ensured that the assistance reached those who needed it most — including persons with disabilities, older people, and families living in hard-to-reach areas.

Looking ahead

The achievements of this initiative have laid the groundwork for continued collaboration between the European Union and DRC. Building on the results and lessons learned, new projects will focus on strengthening resilience, supporting recovery, and ensuring that war-affected families can rebuild safer, more stable lives.